If you’re currently shopping around for car insurance for a first-time driver, you’ve most likely noticed that the auto insurance quotes tend to be very high for these young drivers. The reason for this is that teenagers are statistically more at-risk for having car accidents than older drivers. The good news is that there are ways to find auto insurance for first-time drivers that won’t totally empty your bank account.

The first thing you want to make sure of is that you shop around and don’t just go with the first company you get a quote from. Be sure to get a variety of insurance quotes from a variety of companies that you can then compare in order to get the best deal. Another good idea is to get insurance online versus over the phone or in person. Some companies actually offer discounts for drivers that shop online. And here are some more tips to consider:

• Be sure that your first-time driver is driving a car that has up-to-date safety features. Typically, minivans and SUVs have lower insurance costs than sports cars (although we don’t think your teen would love driving a minivan).
• If the first-time driver does well in school, then you can probably get a discount on your auto insurance. Many companies offer a good-grade discount for students between the ages of 16 and 24.
• Consider signing your first-time driver up for a defensive driving course. Many auto insurance companies will give discounts to drivers that take educational courses such as a defensive driving class.

Those are just some things to think about when you’re ready to purchase auto insurance for a first-time driver. Do you have any other tips and tricks you can think of that can help first-time drivers save some money?